Jack O'Grady grinds a kink rail in the Blue Mountains for the Pass~Port x Nike SB Dunk High
Travis Scott. Supreme. Ben & Jerry’s. Union LA. Nike SB’s long list of collaborators blends skaters, skate stores, big-name brands and celebs, each of them expertly curated to fit SB’s time-honoured ethos. When Nike SB hooked up collabs in the mid-00s, sneaker culture as we now know it was born. Pigeons, Tiffanys and Heinekens became instant grails. The formula was established. In the second wave of SB Dunk supremacy the collabs are hitting just as hard and, this time, we’re getting a little love at the bottom of the map.
The SB Swoosh cosign isn’t afforded to just anyone but, with a rock-solid international reputation, a well-established relationship with Nike and – perhaps most importantly – a fixed focus on community, Sydney’s own Pass~Port is about to shake up the world with its unique spin on the SB Dunk High.
The Pass~Port story begins in 2009 when Trent Evans set up shop in Sydney. Since then, the brand has added international stockists and collaborated locally (Fast Times) and internationally (Carhartt). In 2015, Nike and Pass~Port linked up to create a stealthy SB Blazer in tonal black and, Thursday March 3, they’ll launch the next chapter – the Pass~Port SB Dunk High.
Ahead of the highly-anticipated release, Complex AU spoke to Trent Evans about the sneaker, the store and what he thinks of high-fashion skate sneaks.
We know that Nike doesn’t just release product; there’s always a story behind the sneaker. What story are you looking to tell with this Dunk High?
Our intention was to create a shoe that was a little hat tip to hiking, working hard & exploring the great outdoors. With that direction at the core of the shoe, we got to have lots of fun with the various details, like the tortoise shell sole (faux dirt), antique gold D-rings, custom webbing tape and all the detailed embroideries.
There are so many collabs in the sneaker world these days. What can you do to differentiate yourself and break through the noise?
We got our guy Jack O’Grady to grind a kink rail in the Blue Mountains with one of the most incredibly visually pleasing backdrops of all time. So hopefully that did some noise damage.
That photo of Jack O’Grady in the Blue Mountains is unbelievable. How did the photo come together?
That photo didn’t come easy for anyone involved, especially Jack. We scoped the rail months back and it was in the back of our minds to be ‘the one’ for the entire campaign. The first few times we were rained out of the spot then, when a sunny day finally popped up, we all headed out. It was a bit of a production; we had Jack skating the rail, a photographer, 3 videographers, plus myself and a handful of other crew for support. The backdrop is beyond breathtaking, we all knew it had to go down. After one solid session and a few slams from Jack, he wasn’t feeling entirely confident, so we packed up and decided to wait for another sunny day. The following week, it was back to business and that’s what Jack did, he handled it. One heavy slam, a handful of attempts and he was rolling away, seriously – professional as fuck. Sam Coady, who shot the picture, completely nailed it. He’s getting hit up from crew all around the world wanting to purchase a print.
This isn’t your first collab with Nike. Did you learn anything from the process of the Blazer collab, which you were then able to apply when you sat down to create the Dunk High?
Most definitely. The biggest thing I have learned over the years when it comes to projects like this is to aim high and wide. Throw any and every idea into the pot, once you start mixing it slowly overtime becomes a more refined idea, product or vision.
What can you tell me about Pass~Port? What do you think makes Pass~Port unique?
I started Pass~Port back in 2009 & to be honest there wasn’t a whole lot that excited me about skateboard companies around that time. Not only in Australia but overseas as well, everything was lacking a bit of soul. To this day I still run the company like I did when I first started & that is to keep progressing, keep fucking up, keep searching for things that excites me. I want Pass~Port to always act like a vessel for skateboarders & creative types, where each person can truly express what their interpretation of soul is. Be it skateboarding or the graphics that are produced – it has to ooze jazz.
I’m sure a lot of people reading this have one big question for you – how do you get on Nike SB’s radar, and then get the green light to collaborate on your own pair of Dunks?
I guess the radar signal is pretty bright and clear for us & Nike. We have 5 or 6 team riders on Nike. We have stocked their shoes since day one of opening our store in Sydney. We have collaborated several other times on smaller projects, be it video pieces, activations, tours & so on. The relationship is built off a lot of mutual respect.
What are your top 3 SB Dunks?
I’ll be the first to admit, I’m not a sneakerhead. But I think from an aesthetic & strong story point of view:
Lewis Marnell Dunk Mid – Always a fan of the colours, and it’s Lewis Marnell Forever. RIP.
FTC Dunk Low – The story behind Japanese bath houses is so on point & much love to FTC Tokyo.
Reese Forbes Dunk Low – Both classics, the shoe & Forbes skating.
When we look at the SB resurgence of the last 3 years or so, people kind of simplify it and say ‘well, Travis Scott started wearing SB Dunks’, but surely there’s more to it than that. Why do you think the SB Dunk has come back in such a big way?
I guess to me it’s just a classic & timeless silhouette that has a hell of a lot of heritage. So many different subcultures and parts of the world have put their mark on it.
We’ve seen luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton and Lanvin start to push out skate sneakers recently. What’s your reaction to the world of high fashion adopting skate trends?
Plain & simple, no good. They should stick to their lane & we can stick to ours, even though skateboarding doesn’t have a lane. We go wherever we want, no stop sign slowing us down. [laughs]
If a luxury brands did something authentic, real and for the community, then I’m all about it. But so far someone like LV bringing out a one-page ad in Thrasher is not fooling anyone. In saying all this, if a skateboarder like Lucien Clarke is getting paid well, take the cheque for sure, he’s put in the work.
The Pass~Port x Nike SB Dunk High drops March 4 via Pass~Port, and March 5 at selected Nike SB retailers.
